5

Variety of Processes

that impact the CNS:

1) Inflammatory conditions

2) Infectious conditions

3) Traumatic situations

4) Degeneration

5) Anoxia & circulatory disorders

Aging & CNS

• Reduction in brain weight = loss of brain tissue

• Selective atrophy of brain tissue

• Nerve cell shrinkage

• Decrease in nerve conduction velocity in both motor & sensory system

FRONTAL LOBES

• makes us human

• personality, social drive

• emotions

• rules from parents stored here

• conceptualizing, abstracting, forming judgements

• concentration, attention

• Pre-motor areas: in charge of string patterns of movement

TEMPORAL LOBES

• smell

• hearing & hearing memory

• immediate memory

• chronological memory

* Wernike's area of language comprehension (becomes important in aphasia with CVA patients)

PARIETAL LOBES

• memory, localization and identification of sensations- spacial awareness

• visual motor integration of constructional tasks

• dysfunctions = dysgraphia, dyscalcula, R/L disorientation, apraxia

OCCIPITAL LOBES

• field of vision

• color

• able to identify person by face, shape

DYSGRAPHIA

impairment of the ability to write

DYSCALCULIA

impairment of mathematical ability

APRAXIA

loss or impairment of the ability to execute complex coordinated movements without muscular or sensory impairment

(prob with motor planning)

ATAXIA

an inability to coordinate voluntary muscular movements that is symptomatic of some nervous disorders

INTENTION TREMOR

a slow tremor of the extremities that increases on attempted voluntary movement and is observed in certain diseases (as multiple sclerosis) of the nervous system

DYSMETRIA

impaired ability to estimate distance in muscular action

ASTHENIA

lack or loss of strength

(overall complete reduction of tone)

DYSDIADOCHOKINESIA

impairment of the ability to make movements exhibiting a rapid change of motion that is caused by cerebellar dysfunction

(ie tapping fingers)

FUNCTIONS

OF THE

CEREBELLUM

• Coordinates voluntary movement: planning & programming, especially of learned, skilled movements- movements that become more rapid, precise, and automatic with practice.

• muscle action in order to coordinate it with equillibrium & postural control

• muscle tone

 • Does not initiate movement, but modifies commands

DYSFUNCTIONS

as a result of damage to the

CEREBELLUM

ataxia

intention tremors

dysmetria

asthenia

dysdiadochokinesis

FUNCTIONS

OF THE

BASAL GANGLIA

• Several large masses of neurons that lie on either side of the thalamus & surround the internal capsule

• Includes the caudate nucleus, putamen, & globus pallidus

• Interconnects with the pre-motor cortex, the supplementary motor cortex and the thalamus

DYSFUNCTIONS

as a result of damage to the

BASAL GANGLIA

• Resting tremor

• Bradykinesia (slow motion)

• athetosis < chorea < hemiballismus (involuntary motions get larger)

• Dystonia

• Changes in postural control

MOTOR CORTEX

• Located in posterior part of frontal lobe

• Includes a primary, premotor, & supplementary motor cortex

• Motor homunculus illustrates the neurons that control voluntary movement of a particular body part

• Origin of upper motor neurons (UMN's)